With lightning speed, the Bloody Prince, Olenov's army launched a sudden and ferocious assault on the outpost. The monsters stationed there were caught off guard, quickly falling into disarray. Olenov had purposely ordered a complete encirclement, no one was to escape.
Within moments, the outpost was destroyed.
As the dust settled, a red-skinned monster with jagged teeth approached Olenov, bowing deeply. "My lord, the enemy has been completely annihilated. Not a single one escaped."
Jon frowned slightly at the ruthless efficiency. Not even one prisoner? That seemed reckless.
Olenov nodded calmly. "Good. That means they won't know we're here. But it won't stay secret for long. We must act quickly."
He turned to Jon. "Now I can share my plan."
After a brief pause, he continued, "The terrain of this world is chaotic and fragmented. Though it's smaller than our own, it's still divided among multiple lords. The lord of this region is named Cesaro. I intend to take his throne."
"If I fought him one-on-one, I'd win. But these monsters have learned magic from humans. They can open portals to banish intruders like us back to our world."
"So, if I want to stay here and rule, I can't remain human. I must become one of them."
Jon raised an eyebrow. Another lunatic wanting to abandon his humanity? He'd seen that end badly before.
Still, he asked, "What's your plan then?"
"The Source of Demonblood, the source element of this realm," Olenov replied.
So Demonblood is this realms origin? Jon recognized it. He had heard it once before, from the blood giant.
"All creatures in this realm originate from it. If I absorb its energy, I can transform into one of them."
"Is that even possible?" Jon asked, skeptical.
"We won't know until I try. That meteor that brought my monsters into the Burning Valley also flooded me with a strange energy. A trace of the Source's power entered me then, it wasn't enough to change me, but it allowed me to command lower creatures."
Jon considered. "So why do you need me?"
Olenov explained, "Each lord controls one or two Sources. Cesaro's is nearby. If I attempt the transformation, he'll sense it and lead his army here. During that time, I'll be completely vulnerable. My subordinates can't stop his forces. But you might."
Jon nodded slowly. "Alright."
He didn't mind. Even if the plan failed, it wouldn't cost him much, and it dovetailed with his own goals.
"There is one loophole," Olenov said. "Just as they can banish me, they can banish you too. I'll need to temporarily change you into a creature of this world."
He extended a handو surprisingly pale and delicate, like a noblewoman's.
Jon recoiled in disgust, slapping it away. "No thanks. I have my own method."
Olenov blinked, then shrugged. "Suit yourself. Good luck."
He turned and floated away toward the Source.
Just then, a flicker of green flame flared on Jon's shoulder. It was the little fire spirit he had tamed earlier.
"Be cautious, my lord!" the flame said urgently. "That Blood Prince isn't to be trusted. He's betrayed allies before!"
Jon raised a brow. "You again? What makes you say that?"
"I saw him summon a witch once. She helped him open a Void Gate. Then he killed her, said no outsiders could know his secrets."
"Once he succeeds, you'll become a threat. He'll try to eliminate you."
Jon gave a low chuckle. "Let him try. But why warn me?"
The flame hesitated, then said, "I'm tired of his tyranny. Since you claimed me, I serve you now. At least you don't slaughter your own followers at whim. If he wins and you fall... I'll end up back under him. I can't let that happen."
"Fair enough," Jon nodded. "Thanks for the warning. I promise, you won't regret following me."
"Thank you, my lord!" the little flame said earnestly.
"Now, I'll need to disguise myself. I'll need your help."
"An honor, my lord!" it replied.
Moments later, the transformation was complete.
Jon still looked humanoid, but now his skin was a dark purple shade, reminiscent of the blood giant he had once seen. Strange green flames traced glowing patterns across his body.
Behind him stood hundreds of monsters, now under his command. In that moment, he looked even, more like a true monster lord than Olenov himself.
High above, Olenov soared toward the Source of Demonblood, oblivious to the fire that now burned in Jon's eyes.
In the Blood Realm, even the stones were crimson. Aside from this bloodstone, there were few other materials fit for construction. As a result, most buildings here were forged from that same red mineral. But structures were rare. The creatures of this world were used to living under open skies, sleeping amid wind and dew.
Only the ruling lords and their most trusted retainers were granted the privilege of shelter. These crimson buildings were known as the Temples of Blood.
At this moment, within the grandest of these temples, a creature of immense size stood upon a throne. Its bloated, sagging flesh hung grotesquely from its eight-foot frame. A belly so swollen it resembled a woman overdue in pregnancy rested beneath a pair of vast, leathery wings. Its skin was gray-black and thick, its face brutal and cruel.
This was Lord Cesaro, lord of this region.
Suddenly, a red-skinned creature burst into the hall. It had six eyes and a spider-like mouth, twitching with alarm.
"My lord! A foreigner is absorbing energy from the Source of Demonblood!"
Cesaro's growl shook the ground. "Then why are you still standing there?! Go get him at once!"
The red-skinned creature flinched. "M-my lord... there is another monster guarding him, a humanoid being engulfed in green fire. He was too powerful! Our army didn't even last a moment before he wiped them out."
"Incompetent fools!" Cesaro roared again. The Temple of Blood trembled. "I'll deal with them myself."
Meanwhile, on a cliff not far away, Jon, disguised as a green-flamed monster, lazily watched over the area, surrounded by a horde of lesser monsters.
Truthfully, those minions were for show. Jon alone had obliterated the incoming enemies.
Behind him, a massive sea of dark red energy surged beneath the cliff, the Source of Demonblood, the origin of every creature in this world.
Above that roiling sea, Olenov floated, suspended midair. Streams of dark energy from the source flowed steadily into him.
He could have absorbed it faster, but he dared not rush. While Olenov desired to dominate this realm and rise as its ruler, he clung to his human form. To absorb too much energy at once might transform him beyond recognition, into a true monster.
Jon glanced back again.
"Almost done. I doubt anyone else will show up now," he muttered.
Just then, something stirred in the distance.
A tide of monsters surged forward, led by a towering creature with gray-black skin, a massive eight-foot frame, and colossal wings.
"Looks like the Lord of this region just showed up," Jon mused. He recognized Cesaro from Olenov's earlier description.
Cracking his knuckles, Jon prepared for battle.
Suddenly, a deep, thunderous roar echoed behind him. He turned just in time to see a dragon-like beam of dark energy blast skyward. A meteor-like figure plunged through it, Olenov, now fully transformed.
His once-red hair had turned stark white, but his handsome face remained unchanged.
Cesaro halted in mid-march, his thunderous voice booming: "I don't care who you are, stranger. In the Blood Realm, strength rules, yes, but there is one sacred truth: the Source of Demonblood is holy. To absorb its power without right is a capital offense. You'll be hunted to the ends of this world."
Olenov smiled with eerie calm. "Then I'll simply kill every last one of you."
"Arrogant fool! Let's see if you have the strength to back your words!" Cesaro roared, unfurling his wings and soaring toward Olenov.
Dark wings of energy spread from Olenov's back, and the two titans clashed midair.
As they fought, Cesaro caught a clearer view of his opponent, and his eyes widened.
"You're... a human?!"
He could sense Olenov's power. It was equal to his own, and that terrified him. But more than anything, the revelation that this being was once human shook him.
"No wonder you absorbed the Source—you feared being banished back to your world! But if a human becomes a lord here, it will spell disaster for all of us!"
Olenov laughed wildly. "Aren't you all supposed to worship power in this realm? What difference does it make if your new ruler is a powerful human or a powerful monster?"
Their conversation was overheard by Cesaro's underlings. The red-skinned six-eyed monster turned pale.
"Leave a few behind! The rest follow me—we must inform the other lords at once!"
But before they could retreat, a voice rang out:
"Leave? Who said you could leave?"
Jon, still wreathed in green hellfire, appeared behind them, blocking their escape.
The six-eyed monster hissed, furious. "You filthy traitor! Siding with a human?!"
He couldn't sense Jon's strength, only powerful monsters like blood giants could. He assumed this green-flamed being was insignificant.
Jon smirked. "I don't like your tone. So how about you shut up... forever."
A snap of his fingers. A spark of green fire shot forward.
It struck the red monster—and in seconds, his body was engulfed in emerald flames, reduced to ash.
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